Simply Chatter

Spring – isn’t it WONDERFUL - the birds singing, the blooms everywhere!    

A bit of gusty wind and storms too, but I love rainy days as well!

Pictured above is my father-in-law coming to our aid after a tree fell from the wind this past Wednesday. . .I am so thankful to the Lord that it fell in the direction that it did.  (I nearly panicked when I heard it cracking and crashing since my youngest had just gone out to play, but all was well.)  We did live in the woods, but we are about to get over it with losing most of our trees!

Sadly, there has been some other crashing noises around here.  It was time for the house that my father-in-law grew up in to come down.

Last year’s April 27 tornado ( you can click here for my post about that experience) destroyed much of it and we had to bid it a final goodbye this week.   Closing the door to that part of family history was difficult.  However,

lots more memories are to be made, like eating out!  I love to eat out!  We had so much fun last weekend watching the performance of a Japanese chef as we dined at his hibachi.  This fellow was most entertaining, not to mention the food was fabulous!

Lunch out at a local nostalgic mom & pop diner was a fun midday treat Thursday.   The jolly owner sings as he works,  jokes and cuts up with everyone, creating lots of giggles and grins. 

 

Speaking of things I love, dusk is one of them!  I snapped this while driving home from town last week.  I couldn’t resist—it was just such a pretty evening!

On our way to a friends ordination last weekend, I snapped this one.  (Don’t worry, this time my husband was driving. )  I was enthralled with the sky, so I happened to have my camera in hand.  The biker was unexpected!  

Sometimes unforeseen things happen.  While spending time with the Lord one morning, I felt like He had directed me to a couple of specific verses to ponder—“Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” Jer. 33:3

And “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,” Eph. 3:20.

As I meditated on these verses, I got a text from a friend that has a Christian radio show, telling me that he was headed to an interview with Alex Kendrick from Sherwood Pictures.  Look what he came back with - a signed copy of Facing the Giants for my daughter with a message written directly to her!  OH MY!  I never saw that one coming!  Reckon God had an object lesson for me as I poured over these verses? 

I hope that you had a terrific weekend!!!  I am so glad that you dropped in for a visit!!!       

Simply Heart & Soul: Keeping it all Clean

Oh boy do my kitchen cabinets and refrigerator 
need cleaning out!  And my bedroom closet - what a state it is in, again!  It wasn’t long ago that I cleaned it out, but apparently, I failed to maintain it.  

In spite of my good intentions, there is always something else in need of my attention.  So I quickly tuck things away, thinking I will restore order on another day.

Generally, I manage to keep the rest of our house  tidy.  Just don’t look inside cabinets, drawers, and closets!

You know, our hearts can get in the same state as my storage areas.  It is easy to stay so busy with outside appearances of our lives, sometimes haphazardly tucking things away, intending to work on issues later.

We need to diligently take care of the inside too, lest our hearts pile up with things that don’t belong. 

At the close of each day, make it a habit to evaluate the day with the Lord. 

Ask Him how you did,

how you could have handled things better,

what pleased Him,

and what needs cleaning up and purging out. 

It is far better to tidy up now, than to let things overflow into our lives like my kitchen areas are about to do!     

Search my heart, O God,

Make me ever clean, pure, and new,

My Lord, my Savior,

I long to be in step with you.

                           

Super Easy Gooey Chocolate Cake

If you want an easy, quick fix for a chocolate craving, this is sure to help!

Ingredients:

1 box chocolate cake mix

1 jar hot fudge topping

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 tub Cool Whip

Directions:

1.  In a 9x13 pan, bake cake according to package directions.

2.  Warm hot fudge in microwave for 30 seconds.  Mix well with sweetened condensed milk.

3.  When cake comes out of oven, poke holes all over cake with a toothpick.  Pour hot fudge/milk mixture over cake. 

4.  Cool completely, then top with Cool Whip.  Cover and store in refrigerator.

Through Faith in Christ

If you have accepted Jesus’ offer of salvation through faith in His death, burial, and resurrection, then you are:

Forgiven – No longer will your sins be held against you because Jesus paid your sin debt in full. 

Justified - You are declared no longer guilty.

Redeemed – On the cross, Jesus paid the price for your sins, and you now belong to the Lord. 

Reconciled – You are a child of God, have access to Him, and can have a personal relationship with Him.

Sanctified – Since you are His child, you are set apart from the world and have the Spirit of God living inside you to work in you and through you to transform your life.

Glorified – Jesus has prepared a place for you where you will partake in His eternal rewards and glory, which is more wonderful than we could ever imagine! As you step into Heaven, you will be glorified.

Now that is reason to be joy-filled!

If you would like to know how you can be sure that your eternal destiny is secure, click on the key on the sidebar of this blog.